2005 Cricket Season - Annual Report

In many respects, especially with regard to representative matches, the 2005 season was a disappointing one, as far as results were concerned.

Most disappointing of all was the first defeat in eight seasons in the annual Under 15 Hobbs Trophy match at The Oval, against South London Schools, drawn from pupils in schools in Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth.

Croydon's total of 204 would have been enhanced had the side not been dismissed, with six of the 40 overs not used up. South London made light work of their task reaching their target with the loss of only two wickets. Matt Hudsmith (Dulwich College) scored his maiden century, capitalising on wayward bowling and slack fielding.

The Under 15s began the season brightly, narrowly failing to register an unlikely win against a full London side at Trinity School on May 8th. Croydon's total of 138 always looked to be on the low side but Croydon applied themselves well and a late flurry of wickets ensured a dramatic finish as London squeezed home by two wickets.

The Under 13s and Under 14s faced London Schools at Alleyn's School on June 26th but both matches were lost. Scores: London U14s 222 for 8; Croydon U14s 176 for 6.  London U13s 206 for 6; Croydon U13s 123. It was encouraging to note that the Under 13 team included players from Haling Manor and Selsdon High School - schools not to the fore in supplying players for borough teams in recent years.

Unfortunately, the annual fixture against Waltham Forest at the Arundel Castle ground, West Sussex, was rained off with the match evenly poised. Waltham Forest U16s were 156 for 7 when persistent drizzle caused the fixture to be abandoned.

The Under 12 (Nescafe), Under 13 (Boulden) and Under 14 (TSB) matches against South London Schools, for the Surrey Schools' competitions were not held because of the untimely death of John Smith - who had organised the South London sides (including the South London sides for the Hobbs Trophy) for many years.  It proved impossible to re-arrange these matches, despite extensive efforts to do so.

The Under 18s taught the Teachers a lesson in the annual fixture at Sandilands. Scores Teachers: 160, Under 18s 161 for 3.

The inter-school league finals were held at Trinity School's Sandilands ground in early July in superb sunny conditions. There was plenty of interest for all the players involved in the four finals, as they were surprised to discover that Crystal Palace Football Club's first and second team squads, plus their Academy players, were training at the same venue.

The Archbishop Lanfranc School are to be congratulated on qualifying for all four finals, but they were successful in only one of them, the under 15s (see league tables and finals results).

Our thanks are due to the ground staff at Sandilands, to the umpires, Barry Widger, and all who helped to make the week so successful. We were once again grateful to Terry Page of Fatboys café for supplying excellent sandwiches.

Some schools were dilatory in playing matches and sending in results throughout the season. Thanks are due to Jon Atkinson (Lanfranc) who again masterminded the league competitions.

Jim Hammond (St Joseph's College) oversaw the Secondary Cup competitions, which resulted in wins for Whitgift School in the Under 12 ( v Riddlesdown) Under 13 and Under 14 ages, (both against St Joseph's College). It is hoped to play the outstanding U15 matches early in the 2006 season. The winners of the St Joseph's v Edenham semi-final play Selhurst in the final.

Our thanks are due to Whitgift School, who made their pitches so readily available, and to Jim who oversaw the competitions.

The Under 11s borough side narrowly failed to retain the Surrey Schools' Prosser-Hansford Trophy, losing by six wickets to Woking, off the last ball of the penultimate over, in the final at St John's School, Leatherhead. Scores: Croydon 148 for 3, Woking 152 for 4.  The two sides met later in the season in a friendly fixture at Effingham Cricket club and this time Croydon were winners.

Tony Pratchett, Head teacher of Woodcote Junior School, volunteered to organise the 7-a-side competition for state schools. This took place at Whitgift School on Monday, 11th July. Park Hill Junior School emerged as winners of a competition which involved nine schools in the state sector. Thanks are due to Tony and to site manager, Ken Emmins who prepared the pitches and allowed the association to stage the event.

Winterbourne Junior Boys School are to be congratulated on becoming the first Croydon school to win the Connellan Trophy at The Oval.

Details of the Under 11 competitions are in Appendix 2 of this report. Thanks are due to our vice-chairman, Barry Dighton, who took on the role of Primary Secretary. He must have been disappointed in losing the league final, after nine consecutive wins, to Trinity School.

At the request of Phil Everest, the association stepped in to act as hosts to an East Scotland side. The match was played at Banstead Cricket Club. Croydon looked to be cruising to victory on 135 for 3 off 24 overs but East Scotland applied themselves well and bowled out Croydon for 180 to win by 20 runs.

We were all saddened to learn of the passing of our Hon Treasurer, Harry Maber, just before Christmas, after a short illness.

The association could not function without the time devote to teams by teachers and others throughout the borough. We also acknowledge the role of parents, and the professional expertise of the official umpires.

Special thanks are due to Trinity School for allowing us the use of their excellent facilities: this is much appreciated. Thanks also to Whitgift School and Addiscombe Cricket Club.

We have been most appreciative of the publicity we have been afforded in the pages of the "Croydon Advertiser" and "Croydon Guardian" and a special mention to Jackie Jones of the e-government team at Croydon Council for keeping the association's web-site up to date.

We also acknowledge the financial support from Croydon Council by way of the annual grant via the Croydon Schools' Sports Council, and the support and encouragement from Croydon Playing Fields Society.

The spectre of adequate Public Liability Insurance still looms large: hopefully any problem scan be solved through the good offices of Croydon Schools Sports Council, who have taken up this matter with the local authority.

Congratulations are due to Whitgift School who won the national final of the English Schools' Cricket Association's Under 13 competition, against Loughborough Grammar School, at Oundle School in a closely-contested match.

The association has been guided in his usual diplomatic way, by our President and Chairman, Edward Handley, for which many sincere thanks.

David Lomas
Hon Secretary, CSCA
14.03.06

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Tuesday, 6 January, 2009

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